Zero-X: Century 21 Tech Talk [3.10] | Hosted by Jeff Tracy [Thunderbirds]

Welcome to Series 3 of Century 21 Tech Talk, hosted by the head of International Rescue - Jeff Tracy!
In this briefing we’ll be learning about Zero-X, the famous horizontally-launched spacecraft designed for Solar System exploration!
Starring Jon Culshaw as Jeff Tracy
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[@flatbrokefrank6482]

These stories take me back Fifty years - Friday nights with a Mr Whippy ice cream and the latest episode of thunderbirds - Brilliant!

[@VBaskin2010]

Wow! Perfect connection for both Captain Scarlet and The International Rescue ThunderBirds!

[@alex35agm]

I love all of Gerry Anderson's series, especially Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. The imagination of these shows was brilliant and so were Derek Meddings' effects.These shows were considered children's programs but they were intelligent and treated their stories seriously. I am 63 years old and own all of these shows and still love them.FAB and SIG.

[@Dougurasufilm]

Lovely edition! It was great to see all the continuities woven together into s nice coherent tapestry. The Zero-X must’ve been a PR disaster o.o First millions of dollars spent go up in flames due to a security matter, then the crew basically attacks the very first alien life form humanity encounters in what must’ve been the worst possible way, then they destroy a literal village, and to finish it all off they start a literal war with ANOTHER alien species they fired on first. Holy shit, could a company or the Zero-X Project itself even cover for this??? How they even went to Mars a second time is nearing on unfathomable, the public outrage must’ve been overwhelming o.o

[@benrussell-gough1201]

IMO, the first incident was just bad judgement caused by a combination of impatience and a lack of imagination on the crew's part. A serious flaw that should have meant that particular crew would never fly in space again. However more incompetence than malice. The second incident I blame entirely on Captain Black, who was trigger-happy to the point where he should never been in command of the mission.

[@Dougurasufilm]

@@benrussell-gough1201 Taken in a vacuum, maybe not in the Captain Black case, but in the first case definitely, the leaders of the Zero-X project themselves would still be held responsible. Now if we assume that it's the same universe (even though beta canon says it does, that's really not actually supported by either shows, apart from the Zero-X itself) then Captain Black's decision is even more stupid XD Cause it's the exact same response as previously. One can imagine that Spectrum's involvement is BECAUSE it went wrong last time. There is no way the Zero-X Project is coming out of this without blemishes to its reputation :b

[@jackbohn232]

Love the Zero-X! 1:25 It would be launched horizontally, like a conventional aircraft. Of course, this is Jeff Tracy, he thinks of the Fireflash as a "conventional" aircraft!

[@iandeeley9033]

Zero-X should get it's own TV Spin Off series! After all, it did have it's own Comic Strip series!

[@leahpowell4581]

it should

[@stephenpochly7003]

That would make a great new Anderson series I 👍

[@stephenpochly7003]

I agree. If it happened it would be another gem in Anderson universe. You could also do each characters background as how they joined the Zero X project

[@stephenpochly7003]

I remember going to the cinema with my dad to see Thunderbirds Are Go.What excitement for a seven year old. Not only did I like the way Zero X was assembled but it was the first time I saw Thunderbirds in colour.And on the big screen too. Thanķyou Gerry and Sylvia for a great memory.

[@nigeldewallens1115]

I totally agree with you! It was am such an amazing thing to see it in colour wasn't it 😀😉😊

[@AthrunTalan]

An amazing model. I loved the Zero-X and the film itself growing up in the 90's, it was one of my most watched. Such nostalgia!

[@ryanstephenkristoferkearns1319]

The spaceship that Captain Black commanded a mission to Mars during the first episode, that triggered the war of nerves, fantastic tech talk video F.A.B

[@challenger2031]

Nostalgia from space and Tracy Island's Thunderbirds, how could I not be excited by this. Thunderbirds was and always will be a childhood joy ❤️❤️❤️

[@Dave5400]

I approve that there are still 9 planets in Gerry Anderson's view of the world :)

[@ACtheLegend]

Course there are. The WSA have common sense unlike NASA...

[@Fawltykog]

Such a beautiful model blown to bits at the end of the movie.

[@nlmfilms6641]

So Commander Zero was the one behind Zero X? And the Martian Probe Rocket from “Day of the Disaster” was engaged in competition? This really establishes some solid continuity in the Century 21 universe! 😃

[@crimsondynamo615]

And Captain Gray was once a pilot of Stingray. I love how all of the Supermarionation shows are all in one shared universe.

[@seriousmaran9414]

Strangely Zero X is a very advanced vehicle for the time it was designed. Air breathing engines getting it to high altitude before the ship using rockets to get to space. Not far different from other options available now like Virgin's launch system using a large passenger plane to get a rocket above the main atmosphere layer.

[@cyborgbadger1015]

virgin's plane was the firstthing that sprung to my mind too.

[@seriousmaran9414]

@@cyborgbadger1015 there is also the Stratolaunch Roc.

[@ListerDavid]

I love how these Tech Talks are linking all the Andervers together.

[@Trainlover1995]

Glad they acknowledged the second Zero-X mission, and how it kickstarted the events of Captain Scarlet.

[@crazyjedi5994]

I now can’t unsee the Gemini capsule attached the the nose cone of the MSP

[@AceOThorns]

The Zero-X theme and that assembly sequence are the stuff of dreams. Wonderful to watch to this very day.

[@misolgit69]

I've said it before and I'll say it again I personally think the Space Port assembly sequence is one of the most technically satisfying and absorbing sequences ever filmed Kudos Gerry and the Crew

[@stephenpochly7003]

Could not agree more.It still does not look dated even today Gerry,Sylvia and the crew were way ahead of their time.

[@pixelwash9707]

Very nice overview. As a boy, I looked forward to each new TV-21 weekly comic, with its news cover, and I loved the Zero-X serialized stories in it, especially when it was drawn by Frank Bellamy. The episodes featuring the alien plants with single eyes on their main leaf/body that attached themselves to the Zero-X crew (like the ‘facehuggers’ in the much later Ridley Scott “Alien” movie) remain strongly in my memory - beautifully - and dramatically - realized by the artwork.

[@billstorie1186]

I think you meant to say Mike Noble as the (main) artist on the strip. As far as I know Bellamy never drew the strip, or in fact any depiction of the ship now that I think of it, although Mike has admitted to taking influences from both Bellamy and Ron Embleton. Brilliant artwork all the same - I can just lose myself in some of these panels.

[@pixelwash9707]

@@billstorie1186Yes, perhaps it was him - in his later work, he copied Bellamy's style in his later Zero X work, so well that I thought it was him perhaps. Bellamy introduced the idea of having panels and drawing flow outside "normal" boundaries, and later Zero X work had that effect in it. Thunderbirds WAS done by Bellamy in TV-21 for a while, and one series definitely features an alien creature with a huge eye in it. It's weird how well I can remember this stuff, I've not seen the strips since I saw them when they were first published when I was a boy.

[@geode8556]

Just amazing!!!!! Imagine when this was made! Not when it was broadcast! Beautiful!

[@calvinskye]

I love this ship, love it's theme music, and really love how it ties some of the Anderson series together. Even more with that little Fireball XL5 tidbit! I think this is a fav tech talk yet!

[@nairbvel]

Absolutely loved the way the ending linked two of my favorite TV series of all time...! :-)

[@lewismassie]

I love the Zero-X, it's by far my favourite spacecraft fictional or otherwise

[@peterboczan2116]

Nobody in Thunderbirds likes to walk! Everybody is either sitting down or being transported by automated platforms to their relevant positions. I am surprised they don't half an obesity crises in the middle of the 21st century.

[@MrFederation]

This Gerry Anderson guest vehicle aged perfectly!

[@chrisedwards4917]

Yet again a brilliant production!

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

_Thunderbirds Are Go_ was originally a Zero X movie, but Gerry and co. got cold feet about whether people would pay to see all new characters. So the Thunderbirds were tacked on at the last minute. That's why Jeff and the boys are guest stars in their own film. (And why is the Martian surface not red here and in Captain Scarlet?!)

[@ACtheLegend]

It's dark in TBAG. Check out the shots from Scarlet, they're noticeably redder.

[@onlyme219]

There is something truly magical and very impressive about this stuff produced without cgi

[@benrussell-gough1201]

Humans went to Mars twice in the C21 universe, on both occasions they opened fire on unknown life-forms without reasonable provocation or even compelling cause (did anyone bother to try hitting the 'rock formations' with a hammer before they opened fire on them with a railgun?).

[@edbrackin]

Excellent overview.

[@caelumis3630]

A Fun bit of trivia is that apparently the Zero-X would get another mission in 2068 during the events surrounding Skyship One, this time a trip to *Saturn* and finding possible signs of life. One can spot this cameo in a newspaper article Lady Penelope is reading in the movie "Thunderbird 6". So, unless Zero-X encountered the Monolith or something, I suppose she finally found herself a happy mission following the debacles on Mars.

[@frankhaggar6885]

Another Zero X story would also be a decent way of rounding off the original "Captain Scarlet" storyline, I've even done a script or two on that subject :)

[@EthanBuildz]

By far my favourite ship in all of thunderbirds

[@Odessia-ij5ys]

Amazing machines from Gerry Anderson productions

[@dominicliner1609]

This is the video I love to see.

[@iancotterill2286]

Despite the fact that Zero-X appears in both shows, I don't quite accept the idea that Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet are set in the same universe. If they were, then why didn't Spectrum call for International Rescue's help in episodes like 'Renegade Rocket' and 'Flight 104'?

[@tracytron7162]

Probly cause of IR's secrecy combined with the fact that the 'war of nerves' wasn't supposed to be known to the public

[@iancotterill2286]

@@tracytron7162 But surely Spectrum could have come up with a cover story to give IR, rather than state out loud that the relevant disasters are the result of alien attacks!

[@ACtheLegend]

@@iancotterill2286 for the same reason the WASP or WSP don't call for assistance, they have their own advanced tech to deal with stuff, they're not conventional military. What could IR have done in Renegade Rocket or Flight 104 that Spectrum couldn't have? There would barely have been time to launch the Thunderbirds, much less have them arrive to assist in either scenario.

[@rayvenkman2087]

@@ACtheLegend Plus, Brains’ designs would be dangerous in the wrong hands. Especially if the Mysterons had their hands on the machines and use them for their attacks.

[@SteveMrW]

Zero-X was my favourite.

[@vaclavmacgregor2464]

Plot hole:Why does it exist when Fireballs XL can do it a lot easily.

[@ACtheLegend]

Why drive a regular car when you could drive a Formula 1 racer? Two veeeery different mission parameters. One's a dedicated science survey vessel, the other's an ultra fast interplanetary patrol ship.

[@SymbioteMullet]

@@ACtheLegend why drive a regular car when you can use the Supercar!

[@JagoHazzard]

My head canon is that Fireball XL5 is set a little later than the others, and there was some sort of unexpected breakthrough in the late 2060s. The Fireballs were originally designed for orbital and lunar missions (or as competitors for the Mars mission) but were quickly refitted. Or something.

[@vaclavmacgregor2464]

@@JagoHazzard I agree

[@JosephDent-qd9ih]

Yeah.

[@robstoppablecosplay]

Fantastic Video! Love it!

[@williamcrowe2576]

Interesting that the Zero-X missions are connected with Captain Scarlet's one-man war against the Mysterons.

[@benrussell-gough1201]

I'm thinking that the C21-verse's Mars is home to an entire silicon-based biosphere and that the Mysterons may also be silicon-based and likely C02-breathing life-forms. I have to say that I lose a lot of my initial sympathy for the Mysterons after they used Colonel White's offer of peace as cover for another terrorist attack. Whilst it's probably a bad idea to try to attribute human-like motives to such a radically-alien life-form, you can't help but wonder if Captain Black's stupidity gave a faction in the Mysteron government the excuse to do something that they'd wanted to do anyway.

[@simonhulmesh]

ZERO-X is a mixup of SPACEX STARSHIP & REACTION ENGINES SKYLON.

[@ethanwhitham2022]

Don’t forget the 2019 version of zero x from Thunderbirds are go

[@611_hornet5]

Looking forward to Skyship One soon.

[@thatblenderguy7566]

Nice! Can You Do Supercar Next Please!

[@minicle426]

Even though they aren't vehicles. I feel like we need something on the Martian Rock Snakes.

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

My personal headcanon is that the events of Fireball XL5 take place after the Zero X and the war with the Mysterons, where somehow a Mysteron UFO is reverse engineered and the warp drive from it was repurposed at Space City

[@jsl151850b]

*A nice callback to Lt. Zero.*

[@nigelcarren]

Thank you, I love these, but ..... I would love to see some similar content explaining in excruciating detail how the actual models/props were made. If that would break the fourth wall, then perhaps a new Behind The Scenes channel? Anyway, keep up the great work and compliments of the season to you all from an English armour-maker in a French forest, and his top secret bio-mechanical lobster-clawed assistant! 🧐🤖🌲🇬🇧

[@LouisL1963]

Loved Zero X in the TV21 comic - any chance of another story on this channel guys? 🤞🤞

[@greghab5313]

Bro hype

[@billstorie1186]

Hmmm...interesting that the first 2 attempts to land on Mars met with disaster. Almost as if "something" om Mars didn't want us to be there hehe.

[@malcolmbacchus866]

How does all this fit with Thunderbird 3 being able to get so near to the sun as to overheat in Sun Probe (presumably quite close to the sun)? Mars is only half as far away from the Earth as the Earth is from the Sun. Did Thunderbird 3 have the capacity to go to Mars before Zero-X?

[@ACtheLegend]

The Sun is pretty darn hot no matter how close you are to it, but yes TB3 could easily have visited Mars if necessary, though that wasn't the object of its design.

[@JOHNSMITH-vx5yz]

Hmm that captain guy looked a bit like. That Captain scarlet guy. ,,,,????

[@Odessia-ij5ys]

Space 1999 and Thunderbirds

[@stuartdennis8506]

Aha, so Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet are officially in the same universe 😎

[@ACtheLegend]

Have been since 1967 :)

[@basiltaylor8910]

Such a cool craft, and actually feasible 'StratoLaunch' is one concept based on Jeff,s far thinking that works, you can go to the stars without using a rocket. Sorry to say Zero-X is riddled with flaws like a wheel of Swiss cheese, those boxy multiple engine nacelles on both lift bodies create more drag than a Rue Paul piss up,. Look no further than Glenn Martins XB-48 an early jet bomber with six small jet engines of GE manufacture arranged in similar boxy nacelles mounted on the wings. Said nacelles took up considerable wing area resulting in poor performance. Nice idea Mr Tracy but needs loads more work, do away with those out- rigger undercarriages on the forward lift body and re locate on the aft lift body centre section.

[@crystanubis]

Tech Talk Or: Why We Can't Have Nice Things: The Series

[@michaelhband]

👍👍👍❤❤❤✈✈✈

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

👍👍

[@ut4321]

Given the troublesome history of manned Mars missions as detailed in this Tech Talk, I urge Elon Musk to partner EARLY with International Rescue on his upcoming attempt. SpaceX+IR=SUCCESS!

[@jimdunn8132]

What was the job of the msp

[@ACtheLegend]

To be the first to Mars and to be generally awesome!

[@Setebos]

So what lesson have we learned today? Never . . . absolutely NEVER shoot at anything on Mars, no matter what.

[@MistahBryan]

I think that'd apply to ANY planet :)

[@jyvben1520]

640 feet * 30 = +/- 195 meters long, 436 feet = +/- 133 meters wide 2020, In our Solar System, there are eight planets. The planets in order from the Sun based on their distance are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. (pluto is no longer a "regular" planet, 1 of 4 dwarfs)

[@ACtheLegend]

By 2065 NASA realised their mistake and that Pluto deserved to be reclassified.

[@smilergrogan1452]

@@ACtheLegend Plutonians thinking, 'What's the problem? You discovered us in 1930, didn't even give us a chance to get halfway around the sun and then you disowned us. . . .you think it's fun living on a planet with a 249 year orbital period, that spends a good deal of time closer to the sun than Neptune?' 🤔🤣

[@robertlee1497]

Do you think Elon Musk and NASA should receive this Tech Talk?...you know...so as to avoid any misunderstandings when humans land on Mars? :)

[@jetfire1153red]

the attempted sabotage of the second zero-x mission resulted in the death of the hood, no I'm not joking, they actually kill off the hood. (black phantom in thunderbird 6 may look use the same puppet as the hood with black hair but he is not the hood)

[@ACtheLegend]

Black Phantom is the Hood, he's just using a codename as he did in two of his other appearances. He survives equally impossible-to-survive crashes in the series.

[@jetfire1153red]

@@ACtheLegend whether the book that says that is considered canon or not leaves that open to interpretation and it all depends on what you believe?

[@ACtheLegend]

@@jetfire1153red Gary Files said he was cast to replace Ray Barrett as the Hood, it's the Hood's MO to steal the secrets of International Rescue (as well as using wigs/disguises and using codenames and employing henchmen, it's the Hood puppet, the Hood's voice (would have been done by Ray if he had been available, hence Gary's attempt to do the same kind of voice and not literally any other kind).

[@filipfinodeyev5719]

Is it me, or is the future full of violent psychopaths that sabotage exploration missions and keep on getting in trouble because they are way too trigger happy?

[@GerryAndersonTV]

Sounds like it might just be you… 😂

[@filipfinodeyev5719]

@@GerryAndersonTV they opened fire at things they didn't take the time to understand and got in trouble for it twice. Also, the zero X was sabotaged. Who would sabotage an exploration vehicle?

[@ACtheLegend]

@@filipfinodeyev5719 The first time was accidental, the second was foiled by IR, neither time was supposed to result in the destruction of Zero-X, the Hood was trying to steal it's secrets.

[@B-A-L]

I wish they would go back to real models and sets instead of the cgi crap they are using now!

[@TfearWasHere]

no wonder the british never made it to the moon, their space ships were terrible